House Democratic Policy Committee hosts hearing on efforts to create more energy jobs in PA

State Rep. Pam Snyder (D-Greene/Fayette/Westmoreland) on Wednesday hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing to discuss Pennsylvania’s diverse energy portfolio and creating job opportunities within the industry.

“While the energy environment has certainly changed over the last few decades, it’s imperative we learn as much as possible about future challenges – as well as future careers – in the energy sector,” said Snyder.

The hearing was an opportunity to hear from industry and energy officials on how to create family-sustaining jobs while ensuring a safe and reliable energy supply for Pennsylvania residents.

“Diversifying energy portfolios can create big job opportunities across the commonwealth. It would keep these opportunities in Pennsylvania. It’s clear our state is losing out to our neighbors and we have to craft policies that keep these careers in-state,” said Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie).

Micah Gold-Markel, founder of Solar States, a solar installation and education based company in Philadelphia, and Jackson Kusiak, a solar energy consultant and solar installer for Solar States, noted that Pennsylvania has fallen behind neighboring states in renewable energy support.

“Solar States – whether looked at in terms of hours worked, or revenue in dollars – spends 40%-50% of our time and efforts in New Jersey and Maryland. We are employing, generally speaking, Pennsylvanians when we do solar in other states,” Golad-Markel and Kusiak said. “These states have the same weather conditions and building stock, but better solar incentives. Many solar companies and financiers are waiting in the wings for the price signals to get projects off the ground in PA.”

Zach Smith, external affairs manager for CONSOL Energy, Inc., spoke at Wednesday’s hearing to highlight work that the company is already doing to embrace new technologies and new markets to sustain current mining jobs and promote new opportunities for downstream manufacturing. CONSOL is a leading producer of bituminous coal from the Appalachian Basin.

“Despite the perception, the coal industry has innovated and adapted over the last three decades thanks to a relentless focus on safety and continuous improvement,” Smith said, noting several improvements CONSOL has made for their miners, longwall operators, and overall workforce. He also noted several projects within the company’s portfolio that have been created utilizing alternative uses of coal, particularly in the low-to-no emissions categories.

“The overwhelming majority of our employees live in the region with their kids going to local schools, shopping at local supermarkets, and spending their money at local stores,” Smith said. “It’s our sincere commitment to keep them safe, but also to keep them employed. Which is why we are working so hard to invest in the evolution of technology and the future of our company.”

John Bane, director of government affairs at EQT Corporation, a leading independent natural gas producer, said that providing a safe, learning-focused, technology-driven work environment for employees is a priority for the company.

“Since we rely on people with a broad range of skills, supported by sophisticated technology to operate our business, we believe that attracting and retaining unique, driven, and diverse talent leads to more innovation and greater overall business success,” Bane said. “During an employee’s tenure with EQT, starting on day one, we aim to provide the resources needed to enhance their skills and knowledge, and to promote a culture where employees feel empowered to advance their education and career.”

Bane acknowledged, however, that the growth of the natural gas industry and EQT’s commitment to the use of new technologies have provided challenges to the company’s recruitment efforts.

“As EQT continues to evolve in the digital work environment we feel that it is critical for the leaders in the Commonwealth to support the attraction of new businesses that will lead to the creation and retention of high paying, highly skilled jobs in the field of natural gas production,” Bane said.

Officials at Solar States said investing in a diversified energy portfolio is not only an economic win for the state, but it could also improve power resiliency and reliability.

“Diversification of energy production can protect us against spikes in demand and the loss of any one single energy source due to an extreme weather event,” Gold-Markel and Kusiak said, noting the recent extreme weather events in Texas. “Climate change is going to increase the likelihood of extreme weather events. We need to protect against the possibility of grid failure with diversification and resiliency as key components to our energy systems.”